When Enough is Enough

Where ever you are, that's where you'll be. If you find the same conditions over multiple jobs, perhaps you have brought your situation with you. I say this only because your post indicates an industry wide issue from your perspective. I have experienced excellent managers in terrible environments, terrible managers in excellent environments, and multiple shades between.

If you don't like what's going on outside of you, change what's going on inside of you.

Like it or not, in most corporate environments, politics is more important than performance, in relation to promotion.

You get initial recognition from excellent performance.

You capitalize on that recognition by working the company politics.
In any company, there are a number of "do's" and "don'ts".

1 don't wipes out 100 do's.

This does not mean that you give up your principals and 'suck' up.

You do however need to control how you present yourself to higher ups.

Chas

That "austin cracker company" should make a cracker like this for office workers at their desk!

Anyway, in "the world" you really have to master how to get along with people. Getting to know them a little on a personal level is always important. If you're just a lowly tech that no one has any interest or fondness for, then they won't htink of you for certain promotions or keeping you in a RIF situation. The personal level always wins your part out a little for you.

Another tip is to throw politics out of the way... Treat everyone as your equal and you will get respect back from them. This is where self-confidence comes in, not with tech skills, but as a person. Treat the Assistant and the CFO with respect, professionalism, and care towards their problems and they'll all respect you the same. I have even had some luck that when a higher-up calls and asks if something is possible, and you know you have to research the issue, wager with them to the amount of time you can get it done. Bet on lunch, and so what if you lose, it really helps with a relationship in the end with those who have a reference.

My other advice is to always be conscious of what you're doing and how it will affect your career... I still have a tendency to push things off and do them all at once, and then forget to log them so that the call tracking process is documented. It's human (men's nature) to procrastinate - for sure, but sometimes I have to step back and say "Hey, what are you doing, get on it or it'll look like you're slacking when you really do fill your days with work. "

Keep all these things in mind to govern your personal relations in the office, as well as your behind-the-scenes work and it'll really show down the road.